Suppressor Opinion: Meh, It’s Ok

[Formidilosus]

I’ve wondered this as well. For instance I’ve heard light palma is recommended as lightest contour. I’m assuming it’s to have enough material for good threads/shoulder, but if you have the muzzle flared/stepped up, does it really matter?

Not in the slightest. It’s people with no experience that say those things.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Not in the slightest. It’s people with no experience that say those things.

Or someone trying to sell you a new barrel or their service.

 

[Fatcamp]

Why are you opposed to putting in ear plugs before you shoot? You dont have to wear them in your ears all the time. I have the howard leight ones with the plastic band that goes around your neck. They are unnoticeable until i need them.

On my last deer I actually remembered to put them in. Pretty proud of myself.

Shot a few with them around my neck.

 

[fisherman983]

Seems like just one more thing to keep track of during a shot process where I'm already trying to get set up, get the range to the animal, determine wind, make sure my rifle is level, etc. Why willingly introduce another step to that process?

If your taking a shot so far away, you need to check/read wind and get level, that's a lengthy process to begin with and you shouldn't be rushing it. Putting in early plugs is pretty fast.

I don't shoot without them because I don't wanna lose my hearing. I'll still put in earplugs if I can when I start shooting suppressed.

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[JohnJohnson]

I don't shoot without them because I don't wanna lose my hearing. I'll still put in earplugs if I can when I start shooting suppressed.

If you want to do that, you can. But if the suppressor you buy isn't garbage you absolutely do not need to.

 

[fisherman983]

If you want to do that, you can. But if the suppressor you buy isn't garbage you absolutely do not need to.

I'm hoping they aren't. I bought a scythe and a dominus. I don't plan on using them on anything bigger than a 6.5 prc... maybe a 7prc if I build one. Anything bigger will have a brake

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[JohnJohnson]

I'm hoping they aren't. I bought a scythe and a dominus. I don't plan on using them on anything bigger than a 6.5 prc... maybe a 7prc if I build one. Anything bigger will have a brake

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I didn't mean to sound dismissive but the suppressor I mainly hunt with takes my 6.5CM down to about 121db at shooters' ear so it's just a nonfactor for me as far as needing earpro. I spent a lot of money on suppressors and now I don't have the worry about that.

I don't know anything about the Scythe but the Dominus will take a 300WM down to roughly 131db at shooters' ear. A 6.5PRC would likely be quieter than that since less powder. You will not need earpro for a shot or two.

 

[Cameron.25]

I'm hoping they aren't. I bought a scythe and a dominus. I don't plan on using them on anything bigger than a 6.5 prc... maybe a 7prc if I build one. Anything bigger will have a brake

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I have a feeling you'll like the scythe for hunting. Its a good one

 

[TaperPin]

Fair point. I still don't think it is "trendy", even in mountain rifles. The long-term benefits outweigh the costs in my opinion. As for the the guys pushing to shave a few ounces off of their rifles for carrying in the field, whether it be mountains or forests, in my experience, quite a few of them would be better served to shave that weight at the waistline, rather than in the firearm (myself included).

Even calling it trendy is too harsh - it probably is a better choice of words to simply say it’s a trend with a weight penalty that, at least to me, the benefits don’t outweigh the costs. I will eventually get a small can to practice with, but I’m not as tough as in the old days, so extra weight makes twice the difference it used to.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Because they are almost worse than useless. You get the illusion of safety, while not really gaining anything. Ear plugs require proper use to get the full benefit. The Howard Light ones you mentioned have a NRR of 25dB. The average dB of the 30-06 rifle is 163.6 dB. That means that if you are using them exactly as they are designed, you are reducing the dB of that muzzle blast to 138.6dB, which is just barely below the instantaneous hearing damage threshold of 140dB. If you are even just a bit off with how you are using them, which I will guarantee most people are, especially when trying to shove them in while trying to get ready for a shot, you will not get the protection you think you are. Even at 90% effectiveness, using that same example above, you are now only getting 22.5dB of reduction, reducing that muzzle blast of the same 30-06 to 141.1. Over the threshold.

That is why ear plugs are a crap solution to field shooting when using rifles. For shotguns, whose muzzle blasts are generally in the 150dB range, they make more sense.

Dude, I have been using those for over a decade while rifle hunting with no damage to my ears.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Seems like just one more thing to keep track of during a shot process where I'm already trying to get set up, get the range to the animal, determine wind, make sure my rifle is level, etc. Why willingly introduce another step to that process?

Never been an issue for me and it takes zero time to put them in. I have never missed an opportunity at at animal because I took the 2 seconds to use ear pro

 

[PredatorSlayer]

On my last deer I actually remembered to put them in. Pretty proud of myself.

Shot a few with them around my neck.

Lol - I used to get so amped up I would forget as well, especially before I got the ones I wear around my neck. Now I have been doing it so long, its just part of my routine.

 

[Fatcamp]

Lol - I used to get so amped up I would forget as well, especially before I got the ones I wear around my neck. Now I have been doing it so long, its just part of my routine.

Well, I'm hoping this is a new chapter in my shooting life. I'm very careful about safety but when it comes time for those shots at deer I have so much to keep up with it just hasn't been a priority.

 

[duffman]

There are still quite a few people who see the 6.5 Creedmoor as "trendy" as well. It has been around since 2007 (that's 16 years for the math challenged folks).

I got my first suppressor in 2013 and I was not the first one to do so in my peer group. They have only gotten more popular in that time. If it is a trend, I will put it in the same "trend" category as the 30-06, which, BTW was considered trendy in the 1910s.

Additionally, as more a more rural places are populated, I believe that suppressors won't just be "nice to have" they will be required if we want to keep hunting those areas. I am not saying that the Feds will give up control over them because, let's face it, when has the .gov ever given up power once it has it? I do believe that places will either ban hunting or require the use of suppressors, just like our friends across the pond.

I dunno, I think this would give credibility to that silencers are “in common use” thereby making it easier to take them off NFA. But they are accustomed to having their cake and eating it too.

 

[JohnJohnson]

Never been an issue for me and it takes zero time to put them in. I have never missed an opportunity at at animal because I took the 2 seconds to use ear pro

Lol - I used to get so amped up I would forget as well, especially before I got the ones I wear around my neck. Now I have been doing it so long, its just part of my routine.

See I'm confused because these seem to be directly contradictory posts. It's never been an issue for you because it takes no time (it obviously does take time but whatever it's more about having to remember it, not the time). Yet you apparently have forgotten before so it was obviously an issue?

 

[PredatorSlayer]

See I'm confused because these seem to be directly contradictory posts. It's never been an issue for you because it takes no time (it obviously does take time but whatever it's more about having to remember it, not the time). Yet you apparently have forgotten before so it was obviously an issue?

Like 18 years ago when I was in my early 20’s. Has been a non issue in the last 15 or so years. We are just going to have to agree to disagree on supressors. For hunting, the weight and length will never be justifiable for me. I am hunting in the backcountry out west where ounces can matter though.

 

[WRO]

See I'm confused because these seem to be directly contradictory posts. It's never been an issue for you because it takes no time (it obviously does take time but whatever it's more about having to remember it, not the time). Yet you apparently have forgotten before so it was obviously an issue?

Shh the internet cannot be questioned..


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[HandgunHTR]

Dude, I have been using those for over a decade while rifle hunting with no damage to my ears.

So, you have regular trips to the audiologist to prove this?

I would almost guarantee you have hearing damage, you just don't know it, or are still young enough where it hasn't built up enough to matter.

 

[Sled]

So, you have regular trips to the audiologist to prove this?

I would almost guarantee you have hearing damage, you just don't know it, or are still young enough where it hasn't built up enough to matter.

I get tested regularly for work and can track my hearing loss. I most certainly did damage with gunfire, explosives and artillery. I have tinnitus 24/7 but is sure is worse after shots go off next to my head. My favorite benefit of the suppressor is the loss of the concussive effects of shooting. It's worth the weight penalty to me.

 

[Bluefish]

So, you have regular trips to the audiologist to prove this?

I would almost guarantee you have hearing damage, you just don't know it, or are still young enough where it hasn't built up enough to matter.

Even the standard audiogram doesn’t record all the damage impulse noise does to our ears. My hearing tests decent, but the oae (oto acoustical emissions) tells a different story. Oae’s tell the audiologist what damage has already been done to the ear and just has not shown up yet. They send in a tone and the scilia vibrate sending back a offset tone. It gives an idea of what part of the cochlea has been damaged and which is still undamaged.
I had it done and I have no real hearing above 5k and what i do hear is the brain using what is available and amplifying it. I will have hearing loss as I age and my brain becomes less able to process the signals. I am now quite careful and in the process of fitting every rifle with a can.